They say the family that plays together, stays together. While Chris and I have certainly had some questionable moments on our trips together, this adage does actually apply to our New Moon family. Ever since our kids were little, the Harrisons and Youngs have tried to squeeze in a few close-by mini vacays a couple times a year. We’ve splashed in waterparks in Minneapolis, climbed up and down giant piles of mine tailings in Montreal WI, and explored waterfalls in Upton, WI. And even though the CAMBA trails are near and dear to our hearts, sometimes we like to venture away from our familiar routes and check out other spots we’ve been hearing about.
A couple of summers ago we visited the amazing bike path and trails (and amazing ice cream/gift shop Victual) in Cuyuna with former staffer, Elijah. Biking in the morning and paddling in the afternoon made for the perfect short getaway.
This year, before summer got too busy and catalog production begins, Chris, Joel, Kristy, Egan, and I went to check out the WinMan Trails in Manitowish Waters. Joel and Kristy had already been there before and loved it, plus, we wanted to do some reconnaissance at the trailhead building since the planning for our Telemark shop is in full swing. WinMan Trails is a non-profit trail system spanning 1,300 acres of private and public land. In the summer and fall, they offer miles of single-track mountain biking for all riders, beginner to advanced. During wintertime, the WinMan Trails switch gears to offer groomed trails for cross-country skiing, fat tire biking, and snowshoeing. And, it’s only about a 2-hour drive to some of the most user-friendly, welcoming trails in the Northwoods.
We got a late start, of course, but still had time for a quick ride before it got too mosquito-y. I should say a quick ride for three of us and hanging out on a comfy lounge chair with a good book for me—wind in my hair, drink by my side, complete with a trail dog named Smoke who loved to fetch just as much as our beloved shop dog, Bomber used to. Egan would join us later as he was off chasing down a tornado in Minnesota somewhere. A quick change in the lovely building that featured spacious change rooms and restrooms, a kitchen with appliances to prepare your meals and seating, and even a vending machine with WinMan-branded socks, and we were ready to go…or to read as the case may be.
The riding portion of our party headed out. Chris was riding his Specialized Epic hardtail – his favorite mountain bike, Joel was on his Rocky Mountain Instinct for tons of versatility, and Kristy brought her Borealis Keystone E-Fat Bike for extra grip and stability (the assist doesn’t hurt either!). I relaxed and waited to hear about their adventure. They tackled WinMan One and Roller Creek—both on the easier side—and then Flowage which is more of an intermediate trail.
“It’s like a trail buffet,” Chris commented as he took off his helmet after the ride. “Yes!” Joel added, “There are difficult features but also smaller versions of those features that aren’t quite as technical. And everything is so meticulously maintained.”
“Even though there are a lot of options,” Chris said as he played fetch with Smoke, “nothing felt cramped or too close to other riders.” Kristy joined me in the shade while the guys did a few more loops. Then we headed to our hotel and dinner and spent some time walking by the river while we were waiting for E to arrive with tornado news.
The next morning, after Egan had recovered from his epic 477-mile drive the day before, Kristy and I decided to check out the bike path to the trail center while the guys rode some more dirt. We caravanned away from our hotel a bit so we could extend our route by a few miles and the guys dropped us off about 9 miles from WinMan. Kristy was on her Borealis and I was on my Specialized Turbo Como. I am much more comfortable on a paved or gravel path than a dirt trail and the assist on the Como has given me the confidence to ride farther and with folks that are a bit out of my league.
We took off on the path which included a few stretches of quiet roads—wide and shaded with good road crossing options and signage. One thing we both noticed was that the folks who were mowing were super-respectful, shutting down every time a biker passed by. By the time we had talked about all the TV shows we were watching, gardening, book club, and only a little bit about work, the guys were headed toward us on the path to join us on the last stretch back to WinMan.
“This is really nice,” Kristy said, “There are so many choices for different rides when you add the quiet county roads as options. And, it’s by the river!”
The guys had taken Egan on a tour of the trails while Kristy and I were headed over. E was on his Specialized Turbo Levo. “The offshoots on the trail let you choose whether you want something more challenging right at the actual feature,” Egan agreed with Joel’s earlier assessment. “When we come back, I’m going to spend time more time here at the lodge on all of the practice features.”
Kristy and Joel rode a bit more and had a float down the river on their paddle boards. Egan got some vending-machine socks and headed back to Hayward with me, and Chris meandered home, rock-hounding all the way.
WinMan will definitely be on our list to revisit—probably for a bit longer next time. Whether you are riding the trails or the bike path, having a picnic or reading a book, and even whether you are a beginner or advanced biker, the WinMan trails have something to offer. This is truly a spot where everyone in your group can find something they like to do and feel comfortable doing it. Don’t miss these great trails this summer!
